In one of the nation’s top Senate races, the most important candidate might be one who hasn’t actually entered the contest.
The scramble to challenge Senator Jon Tester, Democrat of Montana — already a heated battle with profound national implications and the acute intensity of a family drama — has increasingly focused on Representative Matt Rosendale, an anti-abortion, election-denying Republican agitator.
Both parties are using him as a pawn in their electoral chess match: Establishment Republicans, who have aligned behind Tim Sheehy, a wealthy businessman, are trying to keep Mr. Rosendale out of the race, while Democrats appear to be helping clear a path for his arrival.
Mr. Rosendale’s entry appears imminent.
On Thursday, he said on a podcast that he had told Senator Steve Daines, a fellow Montanan who oversees the Republican Senate campaign arm, that he was going to run for Mr. Tester’s seat.
Persons:
hasn’t, Jon Tester, —, Matt Rosendale, Tim Sheehy, Steve Daines, Tester’s
Organizations:
Republican Senate, Mr
Locations:
Montana, Rosendale